How to Fish Mountain Lakes with a Tenkara Rod (Tenkara Fly Fishing)

In this video I fish a gorgeous lake high in Wyoming's Wind River Range and talk about my approach to fishing mountain lakes.
DATE FILMED: August 2022
LOCATION: Wyoming
GEAR USED
** SEE MORE INFO ABOUT MY FLIES AND GEAR HERE: tenkaraaddict....
** ROD: Dragontail Mizuchi
** LINES: 13-foot level line (#3.5) with a few feet of tippet
** FLY: Size 12 Idaho Killer Kebari
** NET: Medium Measure Net with rubberized net bag
OTHER LINKS
** Instagram (@TenkaraAddict): / tenkaraaddict​​​​​​
** My main KZbin channel (SUVRVing): / suvrving​​​​​​
** My other store: KamchatkaGear.com​​​​​​
#tenkara​​​​​​ #fishing​​​​​​ #flyfishing

[@michaelsmith7193]

What a fabulous mountain setting! You didn’t mention it, but I can imagine that lake is far off the beaten path. Grateful for these tenkara adventures you share!

[@awaken77]

tenkara is not designed for stillwater in mind, but I caught few fish with that method on the lake. In my opinion the best results are when you sightfishing and fish feeds near the surface. I used slowly sinking emerger, and wet fly (soft hackle type or north country spider), casting it in front of the fish. I lost couple of rainbows (pretty big), because fish ran into the vegetation, and my line tangled and wrapped around the weed

[@user-fe6km7gw8m]

Just above your hat in the background, looks like a hand clenched with a thumbs up. 😀

[@caguas97]

I have fished mountain lakes almost exclusively throughout my life. I have only just started to fish rivers and streams, mostly thanks to the confidence I have gained from watching your videos. If it were me fishing that lake, I would have hiked around the entire thing, making casts every few yards or so. As you said, the fish are cruising, so it is just a matter of finding them. I prefer a heavy lure like a Jake's Spin-a-Lure, or a Kastmaster to get a long cast and a deep retrieve back to shore. I would probably only tie on a fly in the evening when the fish seem to be more actively feeding on the top water. But I could spend the entire day hiking around that lake and catching fish (or not), and I would be a happy man.

[@KeyofDavid5778]

Everybody's different when it comes to fishing high mountain lakes! I prefer your style of fishing....going all the way around the lake.... Trout our territorial so when they cruise they're cruising in their area unless they're the biggest fish in the lake !

[@terrygwilson9628]

Kristin, love your videos. I am new, as in 3 days, to Tenkara fishing. When I grow up, I wanna be you. At 76, I’d better get busy.🤠

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Gorgeous, untouched lake full of willing brookies, and no trees to snag your backcast; what a slice of heaven!

[@Ostrom38]

I still haven't dabbled into fishing yet. At least not since I was a kid. But I love your videos. One day I will get a Tenkara Rod and a 4-Runner and fish out here in Arizona. An excuse to go up into the mountains and escape the heat!

[@wolfspiritoutdoors158]

Don't waste your time brother love yah but start with an actual fishing rod. Starting out fishing with a fly rod is a great way to get discouraged and irritated.

[@winitforal]

I'm in AZ. Took my Tenkara up north last week. It was a blast. Its one of the most satisfying forms of fishing. Best of luck!

[@BlakeCurtis]

Don’t wait for someday, because someday may never come

[@Ostrom38]

@@BlakeCurtis fair advice! Just alot of other expenses saving up for first, but I agree with you!

[@smashdtrash3432]

@@Ostrom38 get a 4 weight fly rod from your local fly shop. Will work for most trout in your region and is easier to leave than tenkara

[@leemowers9395]

Those rocks look very Fishy, good cover from above for the fish. Nice choke point on the lake as well. Thanks Tristan.

[@DuaneTheOakHirst]

I really miss the Wind Rivers😢 great video

[@bradleycloud6638]

Beautiful, fun and informative video. Taking my Sato on my very first backpacking trip to some MT alpine lakes tomorrow. I was looking for answers about fly presentation and as always, you provided - mega-thanks!

[@riverrunner23]

Love to fish the high mountain lakes. Having lived in MT, I was able to take advantage of some of the most beautiful and productive alpine lakes there. Thanks, and enjoy.

[@pastordarwin]

Beautiful place ... Been similar places in Colorado and southern Wyoming as well years ago. The slight riffle can mask your silhouette and any drag in your line and leader. Well done. I really appreciate your videos - it has been quite a few years since I have been able to fish in the high country (I now live in PA). Keep the videos coming!

[@robertphillips3893]

That lake was amazing. I would love to fish there.

[@logannewman4532]

It's summer in Phoenix and when I can't travel north to fish I will occasionally go out in the heat and feed the addiction by bending my rod on bluegills. The really fun part is that every once in a while a bass will decide it wants that tiny snack.

[@rayhoskins4478]

Great Video. You really should have your own TV show on the outdoor channel.

[@samchiang4321]

I'm out east and was just in the Adirondacks in upstate NY. Hope that someday you can make it out to NY and fish the rivers there and hop on a canoe and fish the many ponds in the Adirondacks with a tenkara.

[@ericintampa9352]

what a backdrop. the fish were great. I prefer moving water also. but, this type of experience is enthralling. thanks Tristan. I appreciate it.

[@toddcanterino3376]

What a beautiful place to spend some time fishing.

[@robertleslie2467]

Another sweet video flick. When fishing any lake the best spot will always be the break line. Almost all lakes have a drop off to deeper water from shore. That is the break line and one can literally walk the shoreline if accessible on smaller lakes and troll it on larger lakes with a boat, canoe, or float tube. There are always fish on lake break lines and drop offs. I learned that successfully well in Alaska in the Wood-Tikchik Lakes from fellow fish bums and guides there. Almost all of those guides were and wait for it....from Minnesota! Hardcore fish bums. On another note, I reckon the DragonTail Hellbender would also give you a bit more reach with a longer leader and come in handy if you did get a larger fish. The Mutant on the other hand I am also coveting as per your use on that lake with smaller brookies. On still another note I never call or refer to them as brook trout as is common but prefer to use their more factual name of char (salvelinus fontinalis). I always look forward to your tenkara videos. And yes. You are a fish bum.

[@leemowers9395]

Nice Brooke’s. Great opportunistic fishing from your hikes. Thanks again Tristan.

[@salvadorsepulveda6415]

The hole experience is worth it, thanks 😊 🙏

[@edmiller4149]

Awesome location, Tristan. Love the mountains. Thanks for sharing.

[@cbuttars95]

Man! That is some beautiful water! I’m hoping to talk my wife into hiking up to a mountain lake one of these weekends so we can try out some fishing!

[@danielvantol8748]

Makes ya want to dive in! Such a beautyful lake!! Maybe a little strike indicator would work well! Thanks for the cool video

[@Jokester522]

I caught my first 3 fish on a tenkara Saturday in a mountain pond. One beautiful 10" brookie. Thanks for the videos! I ended up getting a dragontail mizuchi zoom.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Nice! Congrats!

[@YaknTackle]

The Mutant was my first Tenkara rod...I fish with it often...

[@robaldridge6505]

AWESOME !! On lake shores I shoot for the shady side of big rocks, gotta try it for Grayling...

[@robaldridge6505]

is your next video going to be boat on a lake ??

[@jaysmallen3067]

Thanks again for taking us along on a beautiful trip. And enjoyed the insight on lake fishing. I like moving water too, but have been on some small mountain lakes lately too. Still hooking up lol!!! It's been great fishing lately. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what net setup are you using in this video and overall what's been your favorite net so far? Thanks again and I hope you're having a great time wherever you're at 🤙🏻😁

[@davidschroeder9650]

Nice view, nice fish and another great time!

[@robertperman8967]

Beautiful lake. Nice fish

[@allyearangler1471]

TA, great video! I just found your channel and subscribed!

[@schadowolf]

Awesome scenery and video!

[@michaelshuman3319]

Great fishing trip . At 7:45 minutes in the vlog , there are about 4 blackish looking streaks coming down the side of the boulders . Could these have been tiny waterfalls ? A small homemade camping trailer would be perfect for a trip like this 👍luv all your vlogs

[@petersmith6974]

Beautiful scenery

[@kiwirose4196]

Very pretty lake

[@mr.f2087]

Nice fish and nice view!

[@markault8390]

Good stuff as always young man... Thanks!

[@SkepticalRaptor]

I’m not a fan of lake fishing, but the view was incredible. So, that makes up for it. 😃

[@MsQ275]

the winds ❤️❤️❤️

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

That location...my goodness!

[@gp4708]

Thanks!

[@richardbidinger2577]

That view is spectacular, I could sit there for hours and do nothing at all but relax and take it all in.

[@markg3025]

Tristan are there days when you just fish for pleasure and leave the camera off?

[@bobmariano3731]

👍🎣get the net 👍

[@tenkarapondfishing4611]

Tristan. What elevation were you at?

[@jsvalina3503]

Ok.... I've been watching your videos but one thing is still puzzling me, dont you ever keep one for breakfast?

[@logannewman4532]

Due to my limited access to mountain streams combined with my enjoyment of fixed line fishing I've been experimenting in our desert lakes. I've seen videos (mostly of Karin Miller) casting long, weight forward line on what in the video title is called tenkara. I'm not even sure if casting streamers for tarpon on a 20' rod could be considered keiryu. Regardless it looks like a lot of fun so I recently bought a 18' rod and an assortment of western style fly line to experiment and figure out how to throw some big popper flies for top water bass fishing. So far I have managed to get 25 feet of line + 3' of 2x tippet to roll out nicely. Any longer than that and I have trouble picking it up for the recast. Here's that video of Karin fishing for tarpon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGKlpnZngt1-gMU

[@RickMidds]

I think that’s the owner of “Zen Tenkara” fishing rod company. They sell all the equipment she was using in the video including their specialized floating Tenkara line. Don’t waste your money trying to make your own from expensive floating fly line.

[@logannewman4532]

@@RickMidds Yes. I know who she is and her company.

[@logannewman4532]

@@RickMidds I have the line anyway for my other fly rigs.

[@nature10879]

Do you ever cook at eat the fish?

[@BenKickert]

2:14 "Fail hooked him" I used to say "false hooked" and then realized most people say "foul hooked." Curious what the rest of you say.

[@surfindodo]

Ok, I noticed you switched to measure net after 1st fish. Do you have a discount code for the medium measure net ? Thank you. Great video, Beautiful setting. 👍👍

[@davew7250]

I think what happened wad the net was inside-out on the first fish.

[@RoninTy]

Are you keeping any level line in the water or just tippet when fishing open lakes like this? Thanks!

[@1000186ful]

How big a fish can these poles handle ?

[@c.cabanilla8963]

Got three in Farmington creek. A few days ago wow I need to hit the remote spots stay safe

[@therusticcollectionebaysto7028]

New sub ! Liked 🙏✌️😊

[@NathanSeibt]

Did you take the bag from your other net and put it on a Handy-Pak handle/frame? Also, how deep was the fly when those fish would hit it?

[@scottwood1143]

Beautiful location. What kind of hike to get in to it?

[@sharkpyro93]

i dont understand how to tenkara fish in lakes, i tried on a very small lake/pond and barely got 1 trout in 5 hrs, but it looks like its based on pure luck which kinda defeat the purpose of this technique

[@magicworldbyjorg]

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks!

[@magicworldbyjorg]

@@TenkaraAddict Thank you very mutch... have a nice Start of the week.... see you….

[@johnbakken1853]

Love a good foul hooked trout. Always blame the fish.

[@ks412310]

Hi! We actually got our rods for a trip to the Winds! We were up in the Island Lake area in August. You though did much better than us haha. I suppose this is a general tenkara question: is there just a limit to these rods? We were on a large lake and I had three on sort of back to back that all took my line (first two tippit gave at the knot to line, last just the fly). The first I saw clearly was a large fish (and it snapped immediately) the other two I have no idea, the third being close to landed. Is there something that I can do to reduce the stress on the line? Or is this just going to happen?

[@TenkaraAddict]

That sounds like an issue with your knots or the way you're setting the hook, not tenkara 🤷‍♂️

[@JBPorter]

How far are you casting out?

[@au46tro9]

it looks more like a arctic char than a brook trout.

[@buttermybutt7]

You go to a lot of different states to fish. How do you get licenses for all of them? Can you do it on-line these days?

[@carlosandreblatt]

👏👏👏 💕

[@ChristianPaulPhotography]

Just took my Tenkara on the Uinta Highline Trail and it was game on in the mountain lakes! Caught my very first fish on a Tenkara on this trip and pun intended, I’m hooked! Your videos inspired my Tenkara kit for the UHT! Thank you! m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2bVlKZ4f8x-ick

[@TanukiFishing]

wal

[@franklisac3968]

😂

[@rimshotdc]

Tencara works sometimes..IT WILL NEVER BE AS USEFUL OR SUFFICIENT OR REPLACE STANDARD METHODS ❗❗❗❗PERIOD ❗❗❗ ...NUFF SAID